Releasable Heat Seal Wrapper

ABSTRACT

An easy-open wrapper is in the form of a thin sheet having a heat sealable, polymeric material surface and a coating thereon, and a foldable end flap for folding and closing, and the end flap has a heat activated sealant thereon to form one or more heat activated seals bonding to the coating on the polymeric material surface and holding the end flap closed. The sealant has a heat activated tear strength or adhesive bond strength, or both, substantially less than that of the polymeric material surface to open a closed end flap by tearing or de-bonding the sealant without tearing the polymeric material surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to manufacturing a wrapper of polymeric film, thewrapper having end flaps for folding and closing, and the end flapshaving a heat activated adhesive to hold the end flaps closed.

BACKGROUND

A wrapper refers to a sheet of a material for wrapping an item, forexample, for wrapping a ream of paper for storage and sale. The wrapperhas an overlapping longitudinal seam and end flaps that are folded,closed and sealed to form a package that encloses the ream of paper.Typically, a wrapper has been made of a single ply or multiple plies ofpolymeric material coated with a coating of a material capable offorming heat bonded seals. A sealing operation was performed by applyingheat and/or pressure on the overlapped longitudinal seam and the foldedend flaps to melt the coating on the surface of the polymeric materialand form bonded heat seals upon cooling and solidifying. The heat formedseals were tenaciously strong, making it difficult to open the packagingat the heat-sealed areas, particularly at the end flaps. To open thewrapper the end user would be unable to avoid tearing the packagingmaterial, thus destroying the integrity of the wrapper and eliminating ameans for storing paper that remains in the damaged packaging.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,348 discloses a wrapper paper having a paper baselayer coated on one surface by a low density polyethylene (LDPE) layer,and coated on an opposite surface by polyalkyleneimene, PEI, layer. Thewrapper is formed into a wrapped package, wherein the wrapped packagehas folded end sections in which the LDPE layer and the PEI layeroverlap one another. Further, a longitudinal seam of the wrapped packagehas the overlapped LDPE layer and PEI layer. Closing and sealing thefolded end sections, as well as, the longitudinal seam of the wrappedpackage is accomplished by heat activating both the LDPE layer and thePEI layer where they overlap one another to create a heat seal bond thatis stronger than the base paper layer itself.

Prior to the invention, the end flaps of single or multiple-layerpolymeric wrappers were tenaciously heat bonded and sealed to such anextent that when an end user attempted to open the package end flap, theentire wrapper along the longitudinal seam would tear, thus destroyingthe packing integrity for storing any unused paper. The torn wrapperlost its structural integrity and customer appeal, and was furtherrendered unsuitable for re-folding and re-closing the tend flap to storethe unused paper.

To retain customer appeal, it has been proposed to provide an easy-openend flap, which refers to a folded and closed end flap that is easilyopened without tearing the wrapper. Further it has been proposed tocover the easy-open end flap with a label having a peelable adhesivethat could peel away while opening the end flap, and thereafter bereapplied to adhere and re-close the end flap. However, to apply theadhesive label by machine operation, in a manufacturing environment, theeasy-open end flap needed to be held closed by a seal for a durationlong enough so that the end flap was held closed until the label wasapplied over the held-closed end flap. While this temporary seal wasrequired to be easily opened to provide an easy-open wrapper, it alsoneeded to be strong enough for going through a mechanical application ofthe adhesive label.

One solution was to provide a heat sealable coating on the entire outersurface of the wrapper that enabled the packaging end flaps to be tornor peeled open and yet remain tacky enough for the user to applypressure to re-close the end flaps to store unused paper in the originalwrapper. In essence, rather than coating the polymeric wrapper materialwith a coating that enable aggressive heat seals, the solution was tocoat the polymeric material with a less tenacious heat sealable coatingthat enabled the user to peel open the end flaps or the longitudinalseam of the wrapped ream. The problem with this proposed solution wasthat while the entire packaging surface was coated with a material toenable heat sealing, the sealing was not tenacious enough to hold thewrapped reams together during shipping, handling and storage of thereams. As a result of the rigors of handling, transporting and storageon retail shelves, as well as exposure to environmental factors, thewrapped reams frequently broke open at the longitudinal seam or end flapareas.

Another solution to provide a less tenacious seal and easier openingpackage utilized a manufacturing apparatus that applied a varnishpattern with three dots void of varnish to expose more minimal heatsealable areas in the end flaps of the wrapper. The varnish materialinhibited the formation of heat seals in all areas but the three dots,exposing a much smaller heat sealable surface in the end flaps.Surviving heat seal areas were relied upon to seal the end flapstemporarily closed long enough so the adhesive label could be applied ina mechanical operation. In some occurrences the surviving heat sealareas held too tightly so that when an end user removed the adhesivelabel, the packaging toe and the easy-open feature was lost. Moreover,in some occurrences an overabundance of the varnish material couldinhibit the formation of a large enough heat seal area, to such anextent that the end flaps would open prematurely, before the adhesivelabels could be applied by the manufacturing apparatus. An invention wasneeded to overcome these two problems and provide a wrapper that retainsthe easy-open end flap while enabling a heat sealed end flap to be heldclosed feature, while holding a heat sealed end flap closed long enoughfor mechanical application of a removable adhesive label.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wrapper of polymeric material orcellulosic material having a surface of polymeric material coated with amaterial for heat sealing at the longitudinal seam of the wrapper, witha foldable end flap for folding and closing, wherein the end flap has aheat-activated sealant thereon to form one or more heat-activated sealsbonding to the polymeric material and holding the end flap closed.

The present invention provides a method of making a wrapper bylaminating together a first sheet having a polymeric material surfacesuitable for heat sealing with a second sheet having a polymericmaterial surface suitable for heat sealing, wherein one of the sheetshas been printed with printed graphics depicting product marking orlogos, for example, and applying a heat activated sealant in targetedzones on the foldable end flap area of each wrapper to form one or moreheat activated seals bonding to the coating on the polymeric material ofthe wrapper and holding the end flap closed.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the wrapper has alongitudinal overlap seam, and the coating on the polymeric materialforms a heat activated seal of the overlap seam. The sealant targetedfor and applied to the end flap areas has a heat-activated tear strengthor adhesive bond strength, or both, substantially less than that of thesurface of the polymeric material, enabling a sufficient seal and theeasy opening of a closed end flap by tearing or de-bonding the sealantwithout tearing the polymeric wrapper material and destroying thepackaging integrity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an individual wrapper that is cut from acontinuous sheet of a packaging material having one or more wrappers tobe cut therefrom.

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary end view of the wrapper disclosing layers orlaminates.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the wrapper of FIG. 1 that has beenturned over.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the wrapper of FIGS. 1 and 2 partiallywrapped to form an enclosure having at least one open end.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, and disclosing a partially foldedend flap.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, and disclosing a fully folded andclosed end flap.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, and disclosing another embodiment ofa wrapper having a partially folded end flap.

FIG. 7A is a schematic view of a first printing pass performed by amanufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 7B is a schematic view of a laminating pass performed by amanufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 7C is a schematic view of another printing pass performed by amanufacturing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 discloses a thin sheet wrapper 100 comprised of a continuous,thin sheet or laminate 104 of polymeric material coated with a polymericmaterial surface that is laminated to a continuous, thin sheet orlaminate 102, FIG. 1A, comprising, either a single ply, or multiple ply,polymeric material in its entirety, or a paper coated with a polymericmaterial surface or laminated to a polymeric material. Further, thesheet 102 in FIG. 1A comprises a pre-coated EB adhesive 103, activatedby electron beam (EB) energy, to laminate with the printed surface ofthe sheet 104. The surface of the polymeric material in either laminatedstructure may or may not be flood coated on both surfaces with amaterial enabling heat sealing, such as, a minimized flash coatingcomprising an acrylic polymer. Accordingly, the wrapper 100 includes,but is not limited to a single ply 240 gauge film, a 120 g film/120 gfilm laminated structure, a solid film/paper laminated structure, or apolymer coated paper structure. Printed graphics 106, for example,company and/or brand name logos and text, are sandwiched between thesheets or laminates 102, 104. For example, the sheet 104 is transparentand is reverse printed with the printed graphics 106. The printedgraphics 106 are protected by, and are viewed through, the transparentsheet 104. Further, for example, the sheet 104 comprises a 120 gaugepolypropylene sheet coated on both surfaces with a minimized flashcoating, wherein the flash coating comprises an acrylic polymer thatwill bond with a heat activated polymer of similar composition or withPVC and with a heat activated adhesive, i.e., a heat activated sealant.The sheet 102 comprises either a duplicate of the first sheet, or apaper-based sheet with a minimized flash coating, wherein the flashcoating comprises acrylic polymer or polyvinyl chloride PVC polymer thatwill bond with a heat activated polymer of similar composition or with aheat activated adhesive. The polymers disclosed herein include but arenot limited to a polymer, copolymer or terpolymer.

FIG. 1 discloses an individual wrapper 100 to be severed from acontinuous wrapper material or packaging material having one or moreindividual wrappers 100. Each individual wrapper 100 is to be formedwith fold lines 108, 110, 112, 114 to form correspondingly numbered,folded edges of a wrapper enclosure or package 300 in FIG. 3. In FIG. 1,the wrapper 100 has edges 116, 118 that overlap to form an overlap seam302 in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, the wrapper 100 has an end flap 120 that is adapted tobe folded and closed. Another end flap 138 is adapted to be folded andclosed. A process for folding and closing the end flap 120 similarlyapplies to folding and closing the end flap 138. FIG. 4 discloses atleast one partially folded and closed end flap 120, resulting from thefollowing process. A part of the end flap 120 is folded inwardly byfolding along fold lines 122, 124, 126 in FIGS. 1 and 3, and by inwardlyfolding portions of the previously folded edges 108, 110 in FIG. 3.Another part of the end flap 120 is folded inwardly by folding alongfold lines 128, 130, 132 in FIGS. 1 and 3, and by inwardly foldingportions of the previously folded edges 112, 114 in FIG. 3. In FIGS. 1and 3, other fold lines 134, 136 of the wrapper 100 is present foranother portion of the wrapper 100 to be folded inwardly, FIG. 4, toform correspondingly numbered folded edges, and to partially close theopen end, FIG. 4. FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 disclose a remaining trapezoidalshaped portion 140 of the end flap 120 that is folded inwardly along afold line 142 to complete the closing of an end of the wrapper 100.

FIG. 1 discloses the sheet or laminate 104 having a heat activatedsealant 144 applied as a thin coating selectively on triangular selectedsurface areas of the at least one end flap 120. The sealant ispreferably transparent, and for illustration purposes is shown bystippling. A triangular first surface area is bounded by the fold lines108, 124. A triangular second surface area is bounded by the fold lines110, 126. A triangular third surface area is bounded by the fold lines112, 132. A triangular fourth surface area is bounded by the fold lines114, 130. The sealant 144 is applied in a pattern that is within thetriangular surface areas, including, but not limited to, the shape ofthe triangular surface areas. When the sheet laminate 104 is folded asshown in FIG. 4, the surface of the sheet laminate 104 will abut theselected surface areas having the heat activated sealant 144 thereon.Subsequently, heat and/or pressure is applied to activate the sealant144 to form a bond and heat seal with the abutting surface of the sheetlaminate 104, thereby holding the folded portions of the end flap 120closed and forming a moisture resistant seal.

FIG. 2 discloses that the sheet laminate 102 has a heat activatedsealant 144 a, similar to the sealant 144, applied as a thin coatingselectively on triangular surface areas of the sheet laminate 104bounded by the fold lines 108, 124 and bounded by the fold lines 114,130, respectively. The sealant 144 a is applied in a pattern that iswithin the triangular surface areas, including, but not limited to, theshape of the triangular surface areas. Further, the heat activatedsealant 144 is applied to selected surface areas, one of which comprisesthe trapezoidal shaped portion 142 of the end flap 120. When the sheetlaminate 102 is folded as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the surface of thesheet laminate 102 will abut the selected surface areas having the heatactivated sealant 144 thereon. The folding and closing of thetrapezoidal shaped portion 142 will completely close the end flap 120,as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 discloses an alternative embodiment wherein the heat activatedsealant 144 b, similar to the sealant 144, is applied as a thin coatingsolely on the surface area of the trapezoidal shaped portion 142 of theend flap 120. The sealant 144 b is applied in a pattern that is withinthe trapezoidal surface area, including, but not limited to, the shapeof the trapezoidal surface area. The folding and closing of thetrapezoidal shaped portion 142 will completely close the end flap 120,as shown in FIG. 5.

The wrapper shown in FIG. 5 typically wraps a ream of paper sheets. Heatand pressure is applied on the closed end flap 120 to activate thesealant 144 to form a bond and heat activated seal with the abuttingsurface of the sheet laminates 102, 104, holding the folded portions ofthe end flap 120 closed and forming a moisture resistant seal. Heatingto a heat activation temperature renders the surfaces of the polymericmaterials of the layers 102, 104 to a melt bonding state. Accordingly,adequate heat is applied to the overlapped and closed seam 302 in FIG. 5to melt and bond together the overlapped surfaces of the polymericmaterials, such as the acrylic polymer on the polypropylene sheet, orthe polyethylene on the paper sheet. The overlapped surfaces of thepolymeric materials form heat activated tenacious bonds and seals ofpolymer-to-polymer construction. The folded end flap 138 is similarlyfolded and sealed by the application of heat and pressure to form heatactivated tenacious bonds and moisture resistant seals ofpolymer-to-polymer construction. Alternatively, the end flap 138 isconstructed with the sealant 144 similarly as the end flap 120 isconstructed with the sealant 144. According to a preferred embodiment,the sealant 144 is activated to a melt bonding state at the sametemperature that melts and forms heat activated, tenacious bonds andseals of polymer-to-polymer construction. According to an alternativeembodiment, the heat activation temperature of the sealant 144 issubstantially lower than the heat activation temperature for renderingthe surfaces of the polymeric materials of the layers 102, 104 to a meltbonding state. Thereby, a lower temperature is used in a manufacturingoperation to activate the sealant 144 to an adhesive state.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each heat seal to be formedby the sealant 144 and an abutting polymeric surface will have a tearstrength or adhesive bond strength, or both, substantially less thanthat of the surface of the polymeric materials of the respective sheetlaminates 102 or 104, such that the closed end flap 120 is opened bytearing or de-bonding the sealant 144 without tearing or de-bonding thestronger polymeric materials. The sealant has a heat activated tearstrength or adhesive bond strength, or both, substantially less thanthat of the polymeric materials of the sheet laminates 102, 104 to opena closed end flap by tearing or de-bonding the seal without tearing thepolymeric material or de-bonding moisture resistant seals formed by heatactivating the polymeric material. Further, the tenacious bonds andseals on the seam 302 and on the folded and closed end flap 138 continueto hold and retain the shape of the wrapper 100, permitting the wrapper100 to be opened at the end flap 120 to remove paper, and to be used asa tear-free, easy-open resealable package, and thereby an undamagedpackage for unused paper remaining in the package.

Further it has been proposed to cover the easy-open end flap 120, shownclosed in FIG. 5, with a label, not shown, having a peelable adhesivethat could peel away while opening the end flap 120, and thereafter bereapplied to adhere and re-close the end flap 120. Such a label does notcomprise an embodiment of the invention. To apply the adhesive label bymachine operation, in a manufacturing environment, the easy-open endflap 120 needs to be held in place, at least partially closed, as shownin FIG. 5, by the sealant 144 until the label has been applied, anduntil the bond on the removable label is later broken, for example, bypeeling to remove the label, followed by opening the wrapped package.

An embodiment of a suitable heat activated sealant 144 or bindercomprises an aqueous dispersion, or emulsion, of a thermoplastic acrylicpolymer of about 48-52 weight percent and the remainder as water. Thesealant constituents include small quantities of butyl acrylate(141-32-2) and methyl methacrylate (80-26-6). The sealant has a glasstransition temperature of 7° C. Drying above the minimum film formingtemperature leaves a clear, colorless film, which is medium hard,elastic and slightly tacky at room temperature. After drying the sealantheat activation is required for the sealant to form a bond. The film issoluble in most organic solvents, with the exception of alphatichydrocarbons. The air dry tensile strength is 410 psi (pounds per squareinch) at an ultimate elongation of 600%.

The sealant 144 is suitable for use as a binder for laminates of fabric,paper, PVC, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, leather and acrylics. Thesealant can be applied by spraying, printing, nip padding, impregnatingand roll or knife coating. It can be mechanically foamed. Methylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose aresuitable thickeners in acid pH. Hardening agents and surfactants areapplicable additives in the sealant.

The sealant 144 has a heat activated tensile strength of 260 psi, poundsper square foot at 500% elongation. The tensile strength at 300%elongation is 130 psi. The tensile strength at 100% elongation is 70psi. Thus, the elasticity of the sealant is reduced by hardeners toreduce the elongation capability, and to reduce the tensile strengthcorresponding to the reduction in elongation. Reduced tensile strengthis desirable to provide an easy-open end flap 120. The seal of thefolded and closed end flap 120 is easily broken at slight elongationthereof. According to an embodiment of the invention, once the seal isbroken, it does not reseal at room temperature. According to anembodiment of the invention breaking the seal is accomplished by handoperation of a person who has removed the peelable adhesive label, andhas unfolded the end flap 120 to break the seal without tearing thewrapper. According to another embodiment of the invention, breaking theseal occurs with the passage of time while under a peelable adhesivelabel.

According to a further embodiment, the sealant 144 comprises a peelableacrylic polymer or peelable and releasable, pressure sensitive adhesivesealant 144 of the type disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 7,101,615 as apressure sensitive, peelable or releasable adhesive composition whosetackiness is brought about only by thermal activation. Such a sealant144 on the wrapper 100 is only slightly tacky until heat and/or pressureis applied to the folded and closed end flap 120 shown in FIG. 5 to heatactivate the sealant 144, and effect a pressure sensitive, peelableadhesive state. Thereafter, the heat activated, pressure sensitive,peelable adhesive state sealant 144 holds the end flap 120 closed andsealed. According to an embodiment of the invention, the sealant 144holds the end flap 120 sealed and closed for a duration long enough toapply a peelable adhesive label by way of a mechanical apparatus. Later,the peelable adhesive label can be removed by peeling the label, andthereafter, the wrapper is opened by urging the sealant 144 either tode-bond or tear before the wrapper 100 tears, which preserves thestructural integrity of the package formed by the wrapper 100 to storepaper that remains in the package. According to another embodiment ofthe invention, the package formed by the wrapper 100 is folded, closedand sealed by the sealant 144 without the presence of a peelableadhesive label, and the end flap 120 is easily opened by de-bonding ortearing the sealant 144, and the end flap 120 is re-closable by laterre-folding and closing the end flap 120, and re-adhering the pressuresensitive, peelable adhesive state sealant 144.

FIG. 7A depicts a first pass performed by a manufacturing apparatus 700a for making a continuous wrapper 100 into one or more individualwrappers 100. The sheet or laminate 104 is unrolled from a supply roll702 and is transported by one or more conveyors 704, where needed totransport the sheet 104 to, and though, sequential work stations of themanufacturing apparatus 700, which includes the manufacturing apparatus700 a depicted in FIG. 7A. One exemplary conveyer 704 is shown, andincludes, but is not limited to, a continuous loop, belt conveyor 704.The sheet 104 is conveyed to a work station comprising a printer 706that reverse prints the printed graphics 106 for each wrapper 100.Repeated reverse printing will print repeated printed graphics 106 formultiple wrappers 100 on the continuous sheet 104. In an alternativeembodiment of the invention, instead of the printed graphics 106 beingprinted onto the sheet or laminate 104, a transparent sheet or laminate104 is pre-printed with reverse printed graphics 106.

After applying, by printing, the printed graphics 106, the sheet 104 isturned over by web turning bars 708, depicted schematically in FIG. 7A,such that, the unprinted side of the sheet 104 is conveyed by one ormore, exemplary conveyors 710 to another work station printer 712 thatprints the sealant 144 according to the pattern depicted in FIG. 1, suchthat the sealant 144 is on the same side of the sheet 104 through whichthe printing 106 is viewed. The sheet 104 emerges from the first passapparatus 700 with the sealant 144 on one side, and the printed graphics106 on a reverse side of the sheet 104. The sealant 144 is on a surfaceof the sheet 104 that will become the exterior or outside of a packageto be formed with the wrapper 100. It is desirable to roll up the sheet104 on a take-up roll or reel 714.

FIG. 7B depicts a laminating pass performed by the manufacturingapparatus 700 b provided as a portion of the manufacturing apparatus700. A continuous roll 716 of the sheet 102 is unrolled to supply thesheet 102 that has been pre-coated with the EB adhesive 103, FIG. 1A, onthe undersurface. The sheet 104 is supplied from the first pass with theprinted graphics 106 facing the interior between the sheets 102, 104.One or more conveyors 718 convey the abutting sheets 102, 104 togetherthrough an EB laminator 720 that applies electron beam (EB) energy tothe sheet 102, wherein the EB energy activates the EB adhesive 103 to anadhesive state. Further, the EB laminator 720 applies laminatingpressure to laminate the sheets 102 and 104 while the EB adhesive is inan adhesive state. Upon emerging from the EB laminator 720, thelaminated sheets 102, 104 are permanently laminated with the printedgraphics 106 protected between the laminated sheets 102, 104. It isdesirable to roll up the laminated sheets 102, 104 onto a take-up roll,not shown, similar to the take-up roll 714, FIG. 7B.

FIG. 7C depicts another printing pass performed by the manufacturingapparatus 700 c provided as a portion of the manufacturing apparatus700. From the laminating pass, the laminated sheets 102, 104 areconveyed by one or more conveyors 722 through a work station, a printer724 that applies the sealant 144 a, according to the pattern depicted inFIG. 2, or, alternatively, according to the pattern of sealant 144 bdepicted in FIG. 6. Emerging from the printer 724 the laminated sheets102, 104 comprise one or more individual wrappers 100. Each wrapper 100will have the sealant 144 on an exterior surface of the sheet 104. Eachwrapper 100 will have the sealant 144 a, or alternatively the sealant144 b, on an interior surface of the sheet 102. The printed graphics 106are on an interior surface of the sheet 104. The EB adhesive 103 is onan interior surface of the sheet 102. The one or more wrappers 100 aredesirably rolled up onto a take-up roll or reel 726. Each individualwrapper 100 is later severed from the remaining wrappers 100, and usedto make an easy-open package.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sheet 102is printed with the printed graphics 106 that are viewed through thetransparent sheet 104, and the transparent sheet 104 is pre-coated withthe EB adhesive 103 prior to lamination with the printed surface of thesheet 102.

This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description. In the description, relativeterms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical” “above,”“below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof(e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should beconstrued to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown inthe drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenienceof description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed oroperated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments,coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” referto a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to oneanother either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, aswell as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unlessexpressly described otherwise.

Patents and applications referred to herein are expressly incorporatedby reference in their entirety herein. Although the invention has beendescribed in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto.Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to includeother variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range ofequivalents of the invention.

1. A wrapper comprising: a heat sealable, polymeric material surface ona sheet, including but not limited to a single ply 240 gauge film, a 120g film/120 g film laminated structure, a solid film/paper laminatedstructure, or a polymer coated paper structure, wherein the sheet has atleast one foldable end flap for folding and closing; and the foldableend flap having a heat activated sealant thereon to form one or moreheat activated seals for bonding to the polymeric material surface andholding the end flap folded and closed.
 2. The wrapper of claim 1,wherein the sealant has a heat activated tear strength or adhesive bondstrength, or both, substantially less than that of the sheet to open aclosed end flap by tearing or de-bonding the seal without tearing thesheet.
 3. The wrapper of claim 1, wherein the sheet has an overlap seamto form a heat activated seal on the overlap seam by heat activating thepolymeric material surface on the overlap seam to an adhesive state, andwherein the sealant has a heat activated tear strength or adhesive bondstrength, or both, substantially less than that of sheet and the seal onthe overlap seam, to open a closed end flap by tearing or de-bonding thesealant without tearing or de-bonding the sheet or the seal on theoverlap seam.
 4. The wrapper of claim 1, wherein the sheet has anotherend flap, in addition to said at least one end flap, for folding andclosing to form a heat activated seal by heat activating the polymericmaterial surface on the end flap.
 5. The wrapper of claim 1, wherein thesealant comprises a pressure sensitive, peelable adhesive state sealantactivated to a peelable adhesive state by the application of heat, tode-bond by opening the end flap and thereafter to re-adhere to hold theend flap closed.
 6. A method of making a wrapper, comprising: laminatingtogether a first polymeric sheet having a polymeric material surfacewith a second sheet having a polymeric material surface, wherein one ofthe sheets has been printed with printed graphics of either one or anumber of wrappers; applying a heat activated sealant on a foldable endflap of each wrapper to form one or more heat activated seals bonding tothe polymeric material surface of the wrapper for holding the end flapfolded and closed.
 7. A method of manufacturing a wrapper, comprising:forming a continuous sheet of wrapper material into one or a number ofwrappers, wherein each wrapper comprises end flaps to be folded andclosed, the sheet including but not limited to a single ply 240 gaugefilm, a 120 g film/20 g film laminated structure, a solid film/paperlaminated structure, or a polymer coated paper structure; applying aheat activated sealant on at least one end flap of each wrapper to holda folded end flap closed, wherein the sealant forms a seal to hold thefolded end flap closed when activated to an adhesive state; and thesealant having a heat activated tear strength or adhesive bond strength,or both, less than that of the wrapper material to open a closed endflap by tearing or de-bonding the sealant without tearing the wrappermaterial.
 8. The method of claim 7, comprising: applying additional heatactivated sealant on another end flap in addition to said at least oneend flap to hold said another end flap closed wherein the additionalheat activated sealant forms a seal to hold the folded said another endflap closed when activated to an adhesive state; and the additional heatactivated sealant having a heat activated tear strength or adhesive bondstrength, or both, less than that of the wrapper material to open aclosed said another end flap by tearing or de-bonding the additionalheat activated sealant without tearing the wrapper material.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, comprising: severing the continuous sheet of wrappermaterial to provide an individual wrapper.
 10. The method of claim 9,comprising: wrapping a ream of paper with the individual wrapper toprovide a package having an overlapped longitudinal seam and furtherhaving said at least one end flap folded and closed; heat sealing theoverlapped longitudinal seam and heat activating the sealant to anadhesive state; and holding said at least one end flap folded and closedwith said sealant activated to an adhesive state.
 11. The method ofclaim 7, comprising: forming the wrapper material by laminating togethera first polymeric laminate having a polymeric material surface with asecond laminate having a polymeric material surface.
 12. The method ofclaim 11 wherein the second laminate comprises a polymeric material or acellulosic material coated with a polymeric material.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, comprising: printing one of the first polymeric laminate orthe second laminate with printed graphics for each wrapper prior tolaminating.
 14. The method of claim 11, comprising: severing the wrappermaterial to provide an individual wrapper.